Squeaking / Harmonic Balancer wobble
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
From: Reston Virginia
Squeaking / Harmonic Balancer wobble
I've done some reading through older threads suggesting that the C6 has a bad history of harmonic balancer issues. The weather has gotten pretty cold here in Virginia and I just noticed a squeaking, which I kicked up to being just the belt (car is a 2006 C6 @ 42k miles) but all of the reading I've done suggests that I might have a larger issue at hand.
Below you will find a recording of the balancer at idle. All I would like to know is a course of action, may it be replacing the belt first, tightening the bolt on the balancer, or something more drastic like getting the balancer itself replaced.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIy7gF-4Z2o
Thanks all.
Below you will find a recording of the balancer at idle. All I would like to know is a course of action, may it be replacing the belt first, tightening the bolt on the balancer, or something more drastic like getting the balancer itself replaced.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIy7gF-4Z2o
Thanks all.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
Looks to me like the balancer is wobbling which is not good but I don't know how bad yours is. AFAIK you can't just tighten the bolt as it's a one time torque to yield type. I'm only guessing but I think you need a new balancer. Others with personal experience will probably come by and tell you for sure, be patient.
In case you didn't see this thread it's one I saved for reference. Won't help you but just more info:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...ly-wobble.html
Good luck and please let us know what happens.
In case you didn't see this thread it's one I saved for reference. Won't help you but just more info:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...ly-wobble.html
Good luck and please let us know what happens.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
From: Reston Virginia
Looks to me like the balancer is wobbling which is not good but I don't know how bad yours is. AFAIK you can't just tighten the bolt as it's a one time torque to yield type. I'm only guessing but I think you need a new balancer. Others with personal experience will probably come by and tell you for sure, be patient.
In case you didn't see this thread it's one I saved for reference. Won't help you but just more info:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...ly-wobble.html
Good luck and please let us know what happens.
In case you didn't see this thread it's one I saved for reference. Won't help you but just more info:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...ly-wobble.html
Good luck and please let us know what happens.
The wobble is of course concerning, but seeing as though I bought the car @ 32k, I'm not sure what the history is on the belt. I am also not knowledgeable enough to know if a harmonic balancer should be wobbling and what the tolerance is. I was hoping the video would provide some insight.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,412
Likes: 1,295
From: Bluffton, SC
I've done some reading through older threads suggesting that the C6 has a bad history of harmonic balancer issues.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIy7gF-4Z2o
Thanks all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIy7gF-4Z2o
Thanks all.
A loose crank pulley bolt after those early 2005 builds is rare but, I guess, not impossible. Definitely worth having your dealer or a competent mechanic check it out.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: Sugar Land Tx
Only the first 11,039 cars built in 2005 were affected by this issue. After that, a diamond embedded washer was installed on the bolt.
A loose crank pulley bolt after those early 2005 builds is rare but, I guess, not impossible. Definitely worth having your dealer or a competent mechanic check it out.
A loose crank pulley bolt after those early 2005 builds is rare but, I guess, not impossible. Definitely worth having your dealer or a competent mechanic check it out.
I can tell you if you have a dealer do it the cost is about $1K.
Last edited by kellf190; Nov 27, 2010 at 06:12 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
From: Reston Virginia
Only the first 11,039 cars built in 2005 were affected by this issue. After that, a diamond embedded washer was installed on the bolt.
A loose crank pulley bolt after those early 2005 builds is rare but, I guess, not impossible. Definitely worth having your dealer or a competent mechanic check it out.
A loose crank pulley bolt after those early 2005 builds is rare but, I guess, not impossible. Definitely worth having your dealer or a competent mechanic check it out.
Is there anything else I could check for that might be causing belt to slip?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
From: Reston Virginia
The early 05's had the bolt issue... but there has been a lot of bad harmonic balancers since, and it seems mostly with the 06's including mine. What I don't understand is what causes a harmonic balancer to go bad, besides being installed wrong? 
I can tell you if you have a dealer do it the cost is about $1K.
I can tell you if you have a dealer do it the cost is about $1K.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
Let's take the pulley out of the picture for a second then. The issue started occurring right as it got cold out and is more noticeable when I accelerate. The sound unfortunately does not dissipate all that much even after warming up.
Is there anything else I could check for that might be causing belt to slip?
Is there anything else I could check for that might be causing belt to slip?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
Let's take the pulley out of the picture for a second then. The issue started occurring right as it got cold out and is more noticeable when I accelerate. The sound unfortunately does not dissipate all that much even after warming up.
Is there anything else I could check for that might be causing belt to slip?
Is there anything else I could check for that might be causing belt to slip?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
From: Reston Virginia
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
From: Reston Virginia
Take a good look at the HB while the engine is running to check for any wobble. The sound starting when it got cold sounds like a belt problem. The easy thing to do is put soap on the belt to see if it stops or quiets somewhat. If it does swap out the belt and see if that does it.
Will report back tomorrow. You guys are the best.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 763
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http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...night-wtf.html
Last edited by Greenstealth; Nov 27, 2010 at 06:30 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
From: Reston Virginia
I can tell you that I had one of those early 05's with the bolt issue and really if I were you (knowing what i know now) I would probably have it checked right away. My pulley ended up damaging the snout of the crank. You could probably imagine what it took then to get that fixed (new crank and pulley).
Racer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 389
Likes: 57
From: Western Arkansas
I just had this repaired on my 05. My extended warranty paid only $775, which the dealer accepted because my towing company does all of their towing and I eat a tow call every now and then to help them out. Otherwise, it's about a grand because the rack has to come down to get the pulley off. That pulley is causing your problem. Spray some Armor All on it while it's running...the chirp will go away...for a while. You can replace the belt and it will solve the problem for about 100 miles. Accept the fact that you need to replace the pulley...if you wait until it separates you'll have to repair the residual damage. If that damage includes the crankshaft, you'll be opening the savings account rather than the checking account.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
From: Reston Virginia
I just had this repaired on my 05. My extended warranty paid only $775, which the dealer accepted because my towing company does all of their towing and I eat a tow call every now and then to help them out. Otherwise, it's about a grand because the rack has to come down to get the pulley off. That pulley is causing your problem. Spray some Armor All on it while it's running...the chirp will go away...for a while. You can replace the belt and it will solve the problem for about 100 miles. Accept the fact that you need to replace the pulley...if you wait until it separates you'll have to repair the residual damage. If that damage includes the crankshaft, you'll be opening the savings account rather than the checking account.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
Racer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 389
Likes: 57
From: Western Arkansas
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
From: Reston Virginia
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,617
Likes: 13
From: Pasadena, CA
It could just be the AC belt. Mine chirped after the dealer got some parts cleaner on it. I had it replaced.
My car has always had a squeal under hard accelaration when cold. When it warms up it's gone. Although the balancer does have a slight bit of wobble, I don't beleive it's the problem. The car now has 109,000 miles on it.
My car has always had a squeal under hard accelaration when cold. When it warms up it's gone. Although the balancer does have a slight bit of wobble, I don't beleive it's the problem. The car now has 109,000 miles on it.